Offset gun sight



UR 293679342 SR H. o. EIANE OFFSET GUN SIGHT Filed April 20, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 7- i 3a 27 4 f 13 12 17 if g PM Ti 9.12. F1 5 15. T1 5.1%. F15 15.

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OFFSET GUN SIGHT Filed April 20, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 M I INVENTOR. fi/M BY WW 0% 5M ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 16, 1945 QWGHJN BWUHI OFFSET GUN SIGHT Halvor Olsen Eiane, Washington Island, Wis.

Application April 20, 1942, Serial No. 439,616

4 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in offset gun sights, for use with my earlier invention of an automatic rifle, illustrated and described in Patent No. 2,144,241, of January 17, 1939, in which the breech bolt operates directly in front of the gunners face, and as such requires an extra long gunstock between the receiver and the butt plate, which in turn renders the firearm muzzle heavy; and therefore the main objective of the present improvements is for the purpose of obtaining a better balance of the arm, by providing it with offset front and rear sights, and allowing the breech bolt mechanism to operate along the right side of the gunners face, whereby considerable reduction can be made in the gun stock behind the receiver.

I attain this important objective by the use of offset gun sights, which in parts are made up of elements excluded from my pending application for patent on an Automatic fire-arm, filed August 3, 1939, Serial No. 288,165, and by improvements added thereto, hereinafter more full described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a rear view in elevation of a complete rear sight except means for locking elevating post in its base guide, which extend out from the left side of a receiver.

Fig. 2 is a left side view of a rear portion of a receiver, showing the base guide with its cover plate removed. Fig. 3 is a left side view of the base guide cover plate and the elevating post which is vertically slotted. Fig. 4 represents a back view of the base guide cover plate. Fig. 5 is a side view of a friction spring, adapted to bear against the elevating post. Fig. 6 is a rght side view of the elevating post, with its upper offset pivot point in sectional view. Fig. '7 is a sectional top view of a pivotal sight carrying arm, shown as horizontally divided through its center and carrying a turning head at its free end, likewise divided.

Fig. 8 is a top view of the pivotal sight carrying arm in detached relation, showing a rotary sight block mounted on the arm, and the turning head for imparting lateral adjustments to the block.

Fig. 9 is a top view of a complete assembly of internal parts carried within the pivotal arm shown in Fig. 8, for effecting lateral adjustment of the sight block thereon. Fig. 10 represents an end view of the rotary sight block shown in Figs. 1 and 8. Fig. 11 is a side view of a locking assembly partly sectional, for locking the pivotal sight carrying arm as shown in Fig. 1, in position.

Fig. 12 is a bottom view of a spring retaining collar, shown in Fig. 11. Fig. 13 represents a botttom view of a locking plunger in detached relation, for use in looking the elevating post shown in Figs. 1 and 3, in any desired position. Fig. 14 is a sde view of a spiral spring, for use in connection with the lock plunger shown in Fig. 13. Fig. 15 is a side view of a screw for holding the cover plate shown in Figs. 3 and 4 in position. Fig. 16 is a fragmentary top view of the base guide shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 17 is a rear view of an offset front sight, with its hinged sight carrying arm extended. Fig. 18 is a smilar view as Fig. 1'7, but with its sight carrying arm folded. Fig. 19 is a top view of Fig. 1'7. Fig. 20 is a side view of a hinge pin, for use in connection with the sight carrying arm shown in Figs. 1'7 and 18.

Fig. 21 is a right side view of a front portion of an automatic rifle embodying part of my invention. Fig. 22 represents a rear view of a control valve provided with an arm extension for operation of a sight obscuring device, shown in Fig. 21.

In more detailed descriptions hereinafter, the various component parts comprising the invention are designated by numerals and letters, thus: A, in Figs. 1 and 2, is the receiver. 2 is a base guide, which is integral with the receiver A, and slidably support a slotted elevating post 3. A pair of bevel grooves 4, in the base guide 2, shown in Fig. 16 and indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, are cut in the guide walls to receive complementarily formed bevel edges 5, on a cover plate 6. A recess 1, on the back side of the cover plate v6, is milled out to receive a complementarily formed slightly curved spring 8 (Fig. 5), to produce the necessary friction on the elevating post 3, and also to take up any lost motion of the post in its guide.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, it will be noted that in the center of the cover plate 6, is a shouldered hole 9 which correspond with a threaded hole I 0, in the center of the base guide 2, for reception of a screw I 1 (shown in Fig. 15), which keeps the cover plate 6, from moving up or down, when in its place.

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that in the lower portion of the base guide 2, is located a lock plunger 12, (shown in detached relation in Fig. 13) which is provided with a push-button l3 at its rear end and a- V-shaped locking point l4 near its front end, which engage v-shaped notches |5, cut in the elevating post 3, for looking of the post in any desired elevated position. A spiral spring I6, placed under the push-button head l3 and bearing against a shoulder l1, (shown in Fig. 1) furnish the locking power needed.

Referring to Figs. 1, 3 and 6, it will be noted that at the upper end of the elevating post 3, is an offset hollow pivot extension |8, which is provided with an inner shoulder l9, and a pair of diametrically opposite slots 20 in its upper portion, while at its base, likewise opposite, are two V-shaped lock notches 2 A sight carrying arm 22, provided with a pivotal hub 23, is pivotally mounted on the offset pivot extension l8. A lock member 24, shown in Figs. 1 and 11, consist of a cross arm 25 and a shank 26, which at its lower end is provided with a pair of upward tapering lugs 21 which occupy complementarily formed recesses 28 in a collar 29.

Referring to Fig. 12, it will be noted that the collar 29 is provided with a pair of grooved passages 30, which allow the lugs 21 to pass through the collar, and then by giving the collar 29 a quarter turn the lugs 21 will be in line to occupy the recesses 28, which looks the collar 29 to the shank 26. The cross arm 25 of the lock member 24, is slidably mounted in the two slots 20, while a spiral spring 3| (shown in Fig. 11), bear against the shoulder 9 (Fig. 6) and the collar 29, thus pressing the lock member 24 downward.

At the outer and lower corners of the arm 25, are located two V-shaped locking points 32, which engage complementarily formed notches 33 in the upper edge of the pivotal hub 23. A pair of vshaped locking points 34 at the lower edge of the pivotal hub 23, engage complementarily formed notches 2| at the base of the pivot extension l8.

Referring to Fig. 7, it will be seen that the sight carrying arm 22 is bored out hollow, forming a bearing 35 for ascrew-stem 36 and a thrust shoulder 31 for a head 38, on the screw-stem 36. At the opposite end on the screw-stem 36 from its head 38, is formed a square section 39, which fits a square hole 40, centrally located in a turning head 4|, and is held in place by a threaded nut 42B which fits into a recess 43 in the turning head 4|. The turning head 4| is recessed to slip in over the concentric formed free end of the sight carrying arm 22 and serves as a bearing for the screw-stem 36, both with respect to thrust and for rotational purpose. A pair of diametrically opposite guide slots 42 extend horizontally through the concentric formed section of the sight carrying arm 22. A transmission slide 44 (Fig. 9) is internally threaded to fit the screw-stem 36,

and provided with diametrically opposite guide lugs 45, which project through the slots 42 and extend beyond the circumferential surface of the pivotal arm 22, to engage and impart lateral movements to a rotary sight block 46. A spring loaded lock-slide follower 4'! (Fig. 9) is slidably mounted on the smooth surface of the screw-stem 36, in opposite relation to the transmission slide 44, and. is provided with a pair of diametrically opposite V-shaped looking lugs 48, which engage and lock the rotary sight block 46, through a pair of V-shaped notches 49, of which only one is shown in Fig. 1. A spiral spring 50 (Fig. 9) is made to bear against a shoulder (Fig. '7) and against the lock-slide follower 41. It will be borne in mind that the lock-slide follower 41 not only looks the rotary sight block 46 against turning, but also follow the movements of the transmission slide 44, and constantly keeps the sight block pressed against the lugs 45.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 8, it will be noted that the rotary sight block 46 (Fig. 10) is provided with an open V-cut sight notch 52, and an aperture peep sight 53, at diametrically opposite sides, so that by rotating the block 46, degrees, the desired sight lines up correctly in locked position without any further adjustment. A cut-away 54 is provided at the top and bottom of the sight block 46, which allows graduation marks 55 on the pivotal arm 22, to line up with a center line mark 56 on the sight block 46.

In assembling the moving parts inside and outside of the pivotal arm 22, the screw-stem 36 is first put in through a passage 51 and the bearing 35 until the head 38 bears against the shoulder 31 (Fig. '7); next, the spiral spring 50 is put in from the opposite end of the arm 22 until it bears against the shoulder 5|; next, the lock-slide follower 4'! is put in against the spring 50 with the locking lugs 48 going in first; next, the rotary sight block 46 is put in over the arm 22 until contact is made with the locking lugs 48; next, the transmission slide 44 is put in with lugs 45 last, While the screw-stem 36 is being turned by a screw driver until the lugs 45 bear against the end wall of the sight block 46; next, the turning head 4| is put in place so that the squared section 39 on the screw-stem 36 is seated in the squared hole 40, located in the axiswise center of the turning head 4|, and with the nut 42B screwed onto the end of the screw-stem 36 and inside the recess 43, the pivotal arm assembly is complete. It may be advisable to use a lock washer under the nut 42B, to prevent it from working loose.

In its assembled state, the pivotal arm 22 can be put on the elevating post 3, by placing the pivotal hub 23 upon the pivot extension I8, and sliding into place from above, the T-shaped lock member 24 so that the cross arm 25 engages the slots 20; then by placing the spiral spring 3| so it bears against the shoulder |9 (Fig. 6), and then by slipping on the collar 29 past the lugs 21 located at the lower end of the stem 26 (Fig. 11), and finally by giving the collar 29 a quarter turn, the recessed seats 28 are brought in line with the lugs 21, and the pivotal joint is complete. It will be borne in mind that the spiral spring 3| keeps the collar 29 in locked position with respect to the lugs 27, by its downward pressure. Now by placing the lock plunger I2, together with its spiral spring [6 in position as shown in Fig. 2, the elevating post 3 can then be placed in the base guide 2, and the cover plate 6 together with its housed friction spring 8, slid up through the bevel grooves 4, and finally secured in position, by inserting the screw I through the hole 9 and screwing tight into the threaded hole I0 in the base guide 2, and the assembling of the rear sight is complete. The elevating sight post 3 is graduated in the usual way according to the cartridge to be used, and needs no detailed description, and the reading of the graduation is to be taken at the upper edge of the cover plate 6, where notches 58 are cut for easier reading of graduation marks, indicated in Figs. 3 and 4.

Referring to Figs. 17, 18 and 19, it will be seen that a base sleeve 59 is keyed to the muzzl end of a gun barrel 68, a pair of lugs BI and 62 projecting out from its upper left side in the form of a half part of a hinge, for flexible support 0 a sight carrying arm 63.

The lugs 6| and 62 are drilled longitudinally and parallel to the axis of the base sleeve 59 to receive a hinge pin 64, which is provided with a pair of lugs 65, that will pass through a pair of grooves 66 cut longitudinally in the lug 62.

Referring particularly to Fig. 19, it will be noted that the inner portion 6! of the arm 63 is shaped in the form of a cylindrical hub, bored out to accommodate a spiral spring 68 and a floating bearing bushing 69. A shoulder 10 in the front part of the cylindrical hub 61 serves as an abutment for the spiral spring 68, while the floating bearing bushing 69 serves a like purpose for the other end of said spring.

A pair of V-shaped projections H, located on the front end and at diametrically opposite sides of the cylindrical hub 61 (of which only one is shown in Fig. 19) are normally locked into complementarily formed lock notches 12 in the lug 6|, of which there also are two.

In assembling of the front sight members: The spiral spring 68 is placed first in the cylindrical hub 61, and followed by the floating bearing bushing 69; these parts are then placed in position between the two lugs 6| and 62, while the pin 64 is inserted from the rear through the lug 62-care must be taken to see that the lugs 65 line up with the grooves 66, which then allows said pin to be pushed forward until the lugs 65 are clear of the front face of the lug 62, after which said pin can be given a quarter turn to either right or left, and the lugs 65 allowed to slide back into a pair of lock seats 13 (indicated by dotted lines in Figs. 17 and 18).

In order to clear the front face of the lug 62, the lugs 65 must force the floating bearing bushing 69 into the cylindrical hub 61 and compress the spiral spring 68; and for this purpose a slot 14 in the rear end of the pin 64 is provided so that a screw driver may be used.

Referring again to Figs. 17, 18 and 19, it will be noted that the hinged arm 63 can be extended as shown in Figs. 17 and 19, and folded back upon the base sleeve 59 as indicated in Fig. 18, and the sight point protected by the lug 16, which is integral with the base sleeve 59.

The base sleeve 59 in addition to a key-way TI, is provided with a set-screw 18 to rigidly secure it to the barrel.

Although the sight carrying arm 63 can swing either up or down when an object, is encoimtered, yet, it must be regarded as being vulnerable; and for this reason, I have retained the conventional centerline sights to enable the fire-arm to be used as a hand operated bolt action repeater, when the automatic motive power is cut out.

The fixed front centerline sight 19 is preferably made integral with the base sleeve 59 and thus afford protection to the sight carrying arm 63 when in folded position as shown in Fig. 18.

Due to shortcomings of human nature, I realize the possibility that mistakes may be made in lining up the rear sight with the wrong front sight, which would mean a wasted shot, and in order to prevent such mistakes, I have designed a sight obscuring device 80, shown in Fig. 21.

which operate in conjunction with the controlv valve for admission of gas to the automatic mechanism, which constitute a feature in applicants patent, heretofore referred to.

An arm extension 8| (Figs. 21 and 22) is provided with an inward pointed stud 82 which engage a slot 83 and thus raise and lower the sight obscuring device 80 upon its screw hinges 84, with the opening and closing of the said valve.

When the fire-arm is to be used as a hand operated bolt action repeater, the offset sights are then folded and no mistake in sighting is then possible. A'hump 85 (Fig. 2) serves as a saddle rest for the pivotal arm 22, when in folded position. The sight obscuring device is made to lie snugly below the line of sight when the control valve is closed.

The offset sights are made in such way that the line of sight and the line of bore cross each other at a distance of 800 yards from the muzzle of the fire-arm, and at 1600 yards distance the difference between the line of bore and the line of sight will again be the same as at the muzzle, and from then on continue to increase in divergence.

I do not intend to limit my invention to the exact drawings and description as herein given, as many changes can be made without departing from the principles involved.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an offset sighting system for an automatic bolt action rifle, an offset rear sight comprising a base-guide extension having a pair of vertically disposed guide-Ways, a slotted elevating post provided with a pivot extension at its upper end slidably mounted in said guide-ways, a spring pressed lock-plunger slidably operating within said base-guide extension transversely of said guide-ways, there being a pair of vertically disposed bevel grooves in said base-guide extension, a bevel edged cover plate guided and supported in said bevel grooves, means fixing said plate against movement relative to said extension there being a recess on the inner side of said cover plate, a friction spring seated within said recess in crosswise relation to said elevating post and bearing against said post, there being a plurality of lock-notches along an edge of the slot in said post adapted for engagement and locking by said lock-plunger, and means for securing a pivotal sight-carrying arm to said pivot extension.

2. In an offset sighting system for an automatic bolt action rifle, an offset rear sight having an integral formed base-guide extending from the left side of a receiver, said guide having a pair of vertically disposed guide-ways, a graduated slotted elevating post slidably mounted in said guide-ways, an offset hollow pivot extension at the upper end of said elevating post, there being a pair of vertically disposed guideslots at opposite sides of said pivot extension, an annular shoulder in the hollow part of said pivot extension, there being a pair of lock-seat notches at the base of said pivot extension, a horizontally disposed sight-carrying arm provided with an inner hub pivotally mounted on said pivot extension, and a locking arrangement for locking of said arm in a fixed extended position comprising a pair of lock-seat notches in the upper edge of said hub and a pair of V-shaped lockpoints at the bottom edge thereof, a lock member having a vertical stem provided at its upper end with a cross arm having lock-points at its ends and said stem having a pair of opposed lugs at its lower end said lock member being slidably mounted within said hollow pivot extension said cross arm being guided in said vertical slots, a collar seated on said lugs, a spiral spring on said stem seated on said collar and pressing against said annular shoulder, said lock-points adapted for simultaneous engagement with said respective lock-seat notches, and a rotary sight-block adjustable along said sight-carrying arm.

3. In an offset sighting system for an automatic bolt action rifle, an offset rear sight having a slotted elevating post slidably mounted in a suitable base-guide, an offset pivot extension at the upper end of said elevating post, a hollow horizontally disposed sight-carrying arm provided with a hub pivotally mounted on said pivot extension, a locking arrangement for yieldingly locking said arm to a fixed position on said elevating post, and means for effecting rotary and axiswise adjustment of a rotary sight-block on said arm comprising a pair of opposite facing guide-slots in and extending along said arm, a turning head at the free end of said arm, a horizontally disposed screw-stem journalled at the inner end of said arm and secured to said turning head at its opposite end, a transmission slide provided with guide-lugs projecting from said guideslots and threaded to said screw-stem, a spring pressed slide follower provided with a pair of locking lugs projecting through said guide-slots, a rotary sight-block having an open sight notch and a peep sight at diametrically opposite sides slidably mounted on said arm and between said projecting lugs, there being a pair of lock-seat notches in the inner end wall of said rotary sightblock adapted to receive said locking lugs, and

a pair of open aperture spaces at diametrically 4. In an offset sighting system for an automatic bolt action rifle, the combination of an offset adjustable rear sight with an ofiset folda'ble front sight comprising a base-sleeve mounted at the muzzle end'of a gun barrel, a front and a rear lug projecting from the left side of said base-sleeve, a longitudinal passage through each of the said lugs and on a parallel line with said barrel, a pair of lug races or grooves in the passage of said rear lug and lock-seats between said grooves, there being a pair of lock-seat notches in the rear face of said front lug, a hinge-pin provided with a pair of opposed lugs adjacent its rear end mounted and locked in said longitudinal passage, a hinged arm having a sight-point at its outer end and a cylindrical hub at its inner end movably mounted upon said hinge-pin, an annular shoulder within said hub, a floating bearing bushing slidably mounted upon said hinge-pin, a spiral spring pressing against said shoulder and said bearing bushing, and there being a pair of V-shaped projecting lock-points at the front end of said hub adapted to engage and interlock with said lock-seats and maintain said hinged arm in locked alignment with said rear sight and to yieldingly give Way to superior force when encountered.

HALVOR OLSEN EIANE. 

